Written Answers Monday 2 June 2008

Scottish Executive

Defence

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-9292 by Bruce Crawford on 20 March 2008, which countries (a) replied to the Executive agreeing to the publication of their responses, (b) refused the publication of their responses and (c) are yet to respond to the First Minister’s request in respect of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Bruce Crawford: As I said in my response to S3W-9292, we have indicated that we propose to publish responses to the First Minister’s letter about the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. We will do so once these have been collated, and within three months.

Defence

George Foulkes (Lothians) (L): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-9292 by Bruce Crawford on 20 March 2008, whether any other countries have replied to his letter in respect of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty since 31 January 2008 and, if so, whether they have (a) agreed or (b) refused the publication of their responses.

Bruce Crawford: There have been no further responses to the First Minister’s letter in respect of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty since I replied to S3W-9292.

  As regards publication, I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-13034 on 2 June 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Defence

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-9292 by Bruce Crawford on 20 March 2008, what invitations the First Minister has had from heads of state to discuss the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and which ones the First Minister has chosen to (a) accept or (b) refuse.

Bruce Crawford: Invitations to discuss the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty were not sought.

Diabetes

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-12410 by Shona Robison on 9 May 2008, whether it will provide a breakdown on an annual basis of the number of hospital admissions for diabetic conditions.

Shona Robison: The specific information requested is not available centrally because it is not possible to determine the type of diabetes (type 1 and type 2) from SMR01 hospital admission data, as the ICD10 coding system only allows categorisation of the majority of people with diabetes as either "insulin dependent" or "non-insulin-dependent". Whereas virtually all people with type 1 diabetes will be insulin dependent, a substantial proportion of people with type 2 diabetes will also be insulin dependent. In addition, the ICD10 system does not allow the categorisation of the type of coma.

  The following tables show the number of emergency admissions recorded for diabetic ketoacidosis without coma (Table 1) and all comas (Table 2) for each of the last three financial years, broken down by age group, gender and NHS board of residence.

  Table 1. Number of Emergency Admissions for Diabetic Ketoacidosis (Without Coma) by Age Group, Gender and NHS Board Area for Financial Years Ending 31 March 2005 to 2007

  

 
 
 Male
 Female


 
 
 2005
 2006
 2007
 2005
 2006
 2007


 Scotland
 Total
 732
 770
 933
 789
 784
 909


 
 0-24
 319
 343
 403
 355
 382
 443


 
 25-44
 226
 229
 306
 225
 238
 263


 
 45-64
 137
 158
 171
 131
 101
 115


 
 65+
 50
 40
 53
 78
 63
 88


 Ayrshire and Arran
 Total
 37
 59
 69
 67
 56
 87


 
 0-24
 12
 30
 41
 23
 26
 48


 
 25-44
 14
 12
 17
 27
 22
 22


 
 45-64
 6
 12
 7
 8
 4
 7


 
 65+
 5
 5
 4
 9
 4
 10


 Borders
 Total
 9
 2
 12
 5
 9
 11


 
 0-24
 3
 -
 4
 2
 6
 4


 
 25-44
 4
 2
 5
 1
 2
 4


 
 45-64
 1
 -
 2
 2
 -
 2


 
 65+
 1
 -
 1
 -
 1
 1


 Dumfries and Galloway
 Total
 8
 8
 23
 17
 16
 8


 
 0-24
 2
 3
 15
 10
 4
 3


 
 25-44
 3
 4
 3
 4
 8
 3


 
 45-64
 2
 1
 3
 2
 4
 2


 
 65+
 1
 -
 2
 1
 -
 -


 Fife
 Total
 52
 54
 59
 73
 56
 71


 
 0-24
 22
 18
 18
 42
 23
 34


 
 25-44
 17
 22
 21
 22
 20
 16


 
 45-64
 7
 9
 15
 7
 4
 7


 
 65+
 6
 5
 5
 2
 9
 14


 Forth Valley
 Total
 35
 51
 46
 30
 36
 51


 
 0-24
 16
 26
 24
 11
 11
 25


 
 25-44
 10
 11
 11
 10
 19
 16


 
 45-64
 6
 12
 8
 4
 4
 8


 
 65+
 3
 2
 3
 5
 2
 2


 Grampian
 Total
 71
 95
 68
 84
 66
 84


 
 0-24
 38
 42
 32
 51
 39
 50


 
 25-44
 18
 33
 16
 11
 11
 14


 
 45-64
 10
 19
 15
 14
 7
 3


 
 65+
 5
 1
 5
 8
 9
 17


 Greater Glasgow and Clyde
 Total
 198
 179
 268
 240
 245
 269


 
 0-24
 74
 72
 103
 98
 119
 112


 
 25-44
 62
 51
 92
 64
 74
 100


 
 45-64
 52
 41
 57
 47
 34
 41


 
 65+
 10
 15
 16
 31
 18
 16


 Highland
 Total
 35
 35
 41
 33
 57
 56


 
 0-24
 19
 18
 20
 16
 33
 26


 
 25-44
 6
 8
 11
 8
 14
 17


 
 45-64
 8
 6
 9
 6
 7
 7


 
 65+
 2
 3
 1
 3
 3
 6


 Lanarkshire
 Total
 97
 96
 120
 82
 79
 87


 
 0-24
 52
 50
 63
 35
 35
 41


 
 25-44
 24
 25
 39
 29
 30
 29


 
 45-64
 15
 18
 15
 8
 11
 11


 
 65+
 6
 3
 3
 10
 3
 6


 Lothian
 Total
 126
 121
 131
 96
 103
 112


 
 0-24
 56
 49
 47
 38
 54
 64


 
 25-44
 37
 38
 49
 32
 27
 25


 
 45-64
 26
 29
 28
 21
 12
 18


 
 65+
 7
 5
 7
 5
 10
 5


 Orkney
 Total
 3
 -
 1
 4
 10
 -


 
 0-24
 -
 -
 1
 3
 2
 -


 
 25-44
 3
 -
 -
 1
 -
 -


 
 45-64
 -
 -
 -
 -
 8
 -


 
 65+
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Shetland
 Total
 -
 4
 2
 2
 2
 6


 
 0-24
 -
 1
 -
 2
 1
 4


 
 25-44
 -
 -
 -
 -
 1
 1


 
 45-64
 -
 3
 2
 -
 -
 1


 
 65+
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Tayside
 Total
 54
 62
 91
 50
 41
 64


 
 0-24
 21
 32
 35
 21
 24
 30


 
 25-44
 28
 21
 41
 16
 9
 16


 
 45-64
 4
 8
 10
 10
 4
 8


 
 65+
 1
 1
 5
 3
 4
 10


 Western Isles
 Total
 7
 4
 2
 6
 8
 3


 
 0-24
 4
 2
 -
 3
 5
 2


 
 25-44
 -
 2
 1
 -
 1
 -


 
 45-64
 -
 -
 -
 2
 2
 -



 65+
 3
 -
 1
 1
 -
 1



  Source: SMR01, ISD Scotland.

  Notes:

  1. Hospital admission data are derived from linked records on discharges from non-obstetric and non-psychiatric hospitals (SMR01) in Scotland.

  2. Diabetes was defined as ICD10 codes: E10-E14, in the main diagnosis position.

  3. Ketoacidosis was defined as E101, E111, E121, E131 and E141.

  4. The basic unit of analysis for these figures is a continuous stay in hospital. Probability matching methods have been used to link together individual SMR01 hospitals episodes for each patient, thereby creating "linked" patient histories.

  Table 2. Number of Emergency Admissions for Diabetic Hypoglycaemic Coma (Including Ketoacidotic Coma, Hypoglycaemic Coma and Other Coma) by Age Group, Gender and NHS Board Area for Financial Years Ending 31 March 2005 to 2007

  

 
 Male
 Female


 2005
 2006
 2007
 2005
 2006
 2007


 Scotland
 Total
 147
 123
 118
 149
 148
 132


 
 0-24
 30
 15
 12
 25
 14
 19


 
 25-44
 30
 20
 19
 11
 17
 14


 
 45-64
 38
 35
 36
 17
 26
 18


 
 65+
 49
 53
 51
 96
 91
 81


 Ayrshire and Arran
 Total
 10
 4
 4
 2
 3
 6


 
 0-24
 3
 1
 -
 -
 1
 1


 
 25-44
 1
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 
 45-64
 2
 1
 -
 -
 1
 1


 
 65+
 4
 2
 4
 2
 1
 4


 Borders
 Total
 3
 1
 1
 2
 3
 3


 
 0-24
 2
 -
 1
 -
 1
 1


 
 25-44
 1
 1
 -
 -
 1
 1


 
 45-64
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 
 65+
 -
 -
 -
 2
 1
 1


 Dumfries and Galloway
 Total
 -
 1
 1
 1
 -
 -


 
 0-24
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 
 25-44
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 
 45-64
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 
 65+
 -
 1
 1
 1
 -
 -


 Fife
 Total
 10
 3
 3
 10
 9
 7


 
 0-24
 4
 -
 -
 5
 1
 -


 
 25-44
 1
 -
 -
 -
 -
 1


 
 45-64
 1
 1
 1
 -
 -
 1


 
 65+
 4
 2
 2
 5
 8
 5


 Forth Valley
 Total
 11
 3
 12
 19
 7
 6


 
 0-24
 3
 -
 2
 5
 1
 -


 
 25-44
 4
 2
 1
 -
 1
 2


 
 45-64
 1
 -
 3
 3
 -
 -


 
 65+
 3
 1
 6
 11
 5
 4


 Grampian
 Total
 17
 27
 16
 24
 16
 14


 
 0-24
 -
 -
 2
 2
 -
 1


 
 25-44
 3
 7
 3
 3
 2
 -


 
 45-64
 10
 9
 6
 4
 3
 2


 
 65+
 4
 11
 5
 15
 11
 11


 Greater Glasgow and Clyde
 Total
 32
 29
 37
 33
 47
 44


 
 0-24
 5
 3
 1
 2
 7
 10


 
 25-44
 4
 3
 8
 5
 5
 4


 
 45-64
 10
 10
 12
 3
 8
 4


 
 65+
 13
 13
 16
 23
 27
 26


 Highland
 Total
 12
 18
 12
 13
 10
 20


 
 0-24
 2
 4
 2
 1
 -
 2


 
 25-44
 2
 1
 1
 1
 1
 2


 
 45-64
 2
 2
 7
 3
 3
 5


 
 65+
 6
 11
 2
 8
 6
 11


 Lanarkshire
 Total
 20
 14
 16
 12
 22
 15


 
 0-24
 5
 2
 4
 2
 -
 2


 
 25-44
 2
 1
 2
 -
 4
 2


 
 45-64
 7
 6
 4
 2
 4
 2


 
 65+
 6
 5
 6
 8
 14
 9


 Lothian
 Total
 12
 6
 5
 9
 14
 7


 
 0-24
 1
 1
 -
 -
 1
 2


 
 25-44
 6
 3
 1
 1
 -
 -


 
 45-64
 2
 1
 -
 1
 4
 1


 
 65+
 3
 1
 4
 7
 9
 4


 Orkney
 Total
 5
 3
 -
 -
 -
 -


 
 0-24
 1
 3
 -
 -
 -
 -


 
 25-44
 4
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 
 45-64
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 
 65+
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Shetland
 Total
 1
 4
 1
 1
 2
 -


 
 0-24
 -
 -
 -
 -
 1
 -


 
 25-44
 -
 -
 -
 -
 1
 -


 
 45-64
 -
 2
 1
 -
 -
 -


 
 65+
 1
 2
 -
 1
 -
 -


 Tayside
 Total
 8
 6
 6
 18
 11
 7


 
 0-24
 3
 -
 -
 4
 -
 -


 
 25-44
 -
 2
 1
 1
 2
 1


 
 45-64
 1
 2
 1
 1
 1
 -


 
 65+
 4
 2
 4
 12
 8
 6


 Western Isles
 Total
 6
 4
 4
 5
 4
 3


 
 0-24
 1
 1
 -
 4
 1
 -


 
 25-44
 2
 -
 2
 -
 -
 1


 
 45-64
 2
 1
 1
 -
 2
 2



 65+
 1
 2
 1
 1
 1
 -



  Source: SMR01, ISD Scotland.

  Notes:

  1. Hospital admission data are derived from linked records on discharges from non-obstetric and non-psychiatric hospitals (SMR01) in Scotland.

  2. Diabetes was defined as ICD10 codes: E10-E14, in the main diagnosis position.

  3. All diabetic comas, including hypoglycaemic coma, was defined as E100, E110, E120, E130 and E140.

  4. The basic unit of analysis for these figures is a continuous stay in hospital. Probability matching methods have been used to link together individual SMR01 hospitals episodes for each patient, thereby creating "linked" patient histories.

External Relations

Jack McConnell (Motherwell and Wishaw) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the criteria are for applications for the Core Funding for Scottish-Based Networking Organisations Programme within the International Development Fund.

Linda Fabiani: I have already announced support for the next three years of the Network of International Development Organisations in Scotland and the Scotland-Malawi Partnership. Any additional needs identified by the Scottish Government will be considered in the course of the policy delivery.

General Practitioners

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what level of service it believes is sufficient to replace out-of-hours cover in the Kinloch Rannoch area of highland Perthshire.

Shona Robison: In 2004 NHS Quality Improvement Scotland produced standards for out-of-hours primary medical standards. The services to replace the out-of-hours services which had been provided by the local general practitioner should meet those standards.

General Practitioners

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it believes that out-of-hours service is required for the safety and wellbeing of the people in the Kinloch Rannoch area of highland Perthshire.

Shona Robison: Yes. There should be safe out-of-hours services for all patients whether the service is provided by a GP practice or the NHS board.

General Practitioners

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what factors were considered when the decision was taken to allow the Kinloch Rannoch GP practice to opt out of out-of-hours service.

Shona Robison: In accordance with the provisions of the NHS (General Medical Services Contracts)(Scotland) Regulations 2004, the decision was taken by an independent assessment panel. The panel reached a unanimous decision on the basis that practices of similar remoteness and rurality had opted out and that the health boards in those areas had put in place safe alternative arrangements.

General Practitioners

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what conditions were put in place when a new contract was awarded for the Kinloch Rannoch GP practice.

Shona Robison: No conditions were placed on the new practice as far as out-of-hours services were concerned. In terms of the NHS (General Medical Services Contracts)(Scotland) Regulations 2004 a practice either provides out-of-hours services or not. Where it does not do so there can be no requirements in the contract between the practice and the health board in respect of such services.

  Before the new contract was awarded, NHS Tayside consulted the Kinloch Rannoch community and local representatives were on the selection panel.

General Practitioners

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive which GP practices have not been allowed to opt out of out-of-hours service in mainland Scotland.

Shona Robison: None.

General Practitioners

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many GPs who have offered out-of-hours services have retired since 2005 and have not been replaced by new GP practices offering equivalent out-of-hours services.

Shona Robison: Since 2005 there has been one case of a GP providing out-of-hours services who has been replaced by a GP not providing such services.

Health

Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to improve data capture for long-term conditions such as Parkinson’s disease.

Shona Robison: The Information Services Division (ISD) of NHS National Services Scotland has set up a long-term conditions programme to tackle this issue, with a particular emphasis on record linkages as the basis of a person-centred approach that will capture co-morbidities. The Chief Medical Officer’s Long-Term Conditions Steering Group receives regular reports from those responsible for the programme.

  ISD is working closely with five Community Health Partnerships to understand their information needs, particularly in relation to long term conditions. There is a recognition of the need to link to work on community care outcomes and the single shared assessment to provide a holistic approach.

  Long-term conditions have also been identified as an important element of the eHealth strategy.

  In relation to Parkinson’s disease, the development of the clinical guideline by SIGN and clinical standards by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland will act as a catalyst for data collection.

Health

Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what importance it expects NHS service commissioners to attach to data on the (a) prevalence, (b) quality of life and (c) excess mortality risk relating to named conditions when reaching decisions on resource allocation to support people with such conditions.

Shona Robison: NHS boards are responsible for the planning and provision of NHS services in accordance with national and local priorities, based on their assessment of the health needs of their resident populations, and in line with guidance on evidence-based care for specific diseases or conditions. Such guidance is available from a range of sources, including NHS Quality Improvement Scotland.

  The Arbuthnott Formula allocates resources to NHS boards according to the needs of and costs of supplying services to their populations. The additional needs indices in the formula are built up from care programmes and diagnostic groups, and are not based on the prevalence of specific conditions.

Health

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive which areas in mainland Scotland are considered as equivalent to Scottish islands in terms of provision of health services.

Shona Robison: As far as primary medical services are concerned, all areas of Scotland including the islands are subject to the same regulations.

Health

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were admitted to hospital for burns suffered from an electric shock at a electricity sub-station in each of the last five years, broken down by NHS board.

Shona Robison: The information requested is not held centrally.

Higher Education Funding

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the First Minister will work with the Education Directorate-General and the Scottish Funding Council to (a) review in the long term the future funding needs of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and (b) provide in the short term the Academy with £600,000 to fund the gap in its finances.

Fiona Hyslop: Any review of the level of funding support for drama courses is a matter for the Scottish Funding Council to take forward in discussion with the institutions concerned, namely Queen Margaret University and the Royal Scottish Academy for Music and Drama. Therefore the Scottish Government warmly welcomes the announcement by the Scottish Funding Council on 22 May 2008 that it will undertake a review of the funding of drama provision across Scotland.

  On 22 May 2008 the Principal of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama issued a statement welcoming the Scottish Funding Council’s review of drama provision and confirmed that the Academy is currently in a stable financial position.

Homelessness

Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the use by councils of six-month short-assured tenancies for homeless people in order to meet the goal of abolishing all unintentional homelessness by 2012.

Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it believes that short-assured tenancies are appropriate for housing vulnerable individuals.

Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what role it believes that the private sector should play in meeting the target to abolish all unintentional homelessness by 2012.

Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it believes that a six-month short-assured tenancy is enough to give vulnerable individuals a secure start after a period of homelessness.

Stewart Maxwell: The adequate supply of affordable housing in the right areas is central to meeting the target to abolish the priority need distinction in homelessness legislation by 2012. As announced in Firm Foundations , the government believes the private rented sector has the capacity to play a greater role in meeting local housing need, providing good quality accommodation in urban and rural areas.

  We will consult shortly with all relevant stakeholders on proposals to enable local authorities to discharge their duty to a homeless household through use of a Short Assured Tenancy in the private rented sector where this is an appropriate and sustainable outcome for the household concerned. This additional flexibility would help local authorities increase the housing supply options in their area and provide more choice for individual applicants. The consultation will explore circumstances in which local authorities could invoke the power and will invite views on the conditions which should be attached to its use.

  Local authorities have a responsibility to ensure that the outcomes achieved for homeless households are sustainable and that repeat homelessness is avoided wherever possible. In both the private rented and social sectors tenants have responsibilities under their tenancy agreement and landlords have powers to recover possession.

Housing

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many affordable homes for sale will be built in the Lothians in (a) 2009, (b) 2010 and (c) 2011, broken down by local authority.

Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Government plans to approve 394 affordable homes for sale in the Lothians through the affordable housing investment programme during the financial year 2008-09. This is broken down as follows:

  

 East Lothian
 50


 Midlothian
 45


 West Lothian
 55


 Edinburgh
 244



  These properties will be available for sale in future financial years, the timing of which will depend on the rate of the build programme.

  The programme for 2009-10 and 2010-11 will be announced nearer the time.

Housing

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has invested in housing in each parliamentary constituency in the Lothians in each year since 1999.

Stewart Maxwell: Information on all affordable housing investment in each parliamentary constituency in the Lothians is not held centrally. Data is held at the local authority level over this time period and the following table provides details of this investment.

  Scottish Government - Affordable Housing Expenditure (1999-00 to 2007-08) by Lothians Local Authorities

  

£ Million
 1999-2000
 2000-01
 2001-02
 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06
 2006-07
 2007-08


 City of Edinburgh Council
 18.2
 17.5
 14.0
 14.1
 17.3
 28.4
 33.9
 55.2
 58.9


 East Lothian Council
 1.6
 1.0
 0.7
 1.0
 1.7
 1.8
 3.3
 7.1
 8.3


 Midlothian Council
 0.5
 0.7
 0.9
 1.4
 0.8
 0.9
 4.9
 4.8
 9.5


 West Lothian Council
 3.6
 3.6
 2.4
 2.6
 5.8
 7.8
 6.2
 11.7
 8.2



  Note: Figures include investment from the Affordable Housing Investment Programme and the Open Market Shared Equity pilot scheme.

Housing

Nigel Don (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much was written off by each local authority in rent arrears in each year since 1999.

Stewart Maxwell: The information requested is shown in the following table.

  Rents Arrears Written Off in the Financial Year Ending 31 March (£ Million)

  

 
 1999
 2000
 2001
 2002
 2003
 2004
 2005
 2006
 2007


 Scotland
 6.5
 8.4
 9.7
 9.9
 13.8
 6.9
 8.5
 8.1
 9.1


 Aberdeen City 
 0.4
 0.4
 0.5
 0.6
 0.6
 0.6
 0.8
 1.2
 1.1


 Aberdeenshire 
 0.1
 0.0
 0.0
 0.1
 0.1
 0.1
 0.1
 0.1
 0.2


 Angus 
 0.0
 0.0
 0.0
 0.0
 0.1
 0.1
 0.2
 0.2
 0.1


 Argyll and Bute 
 0.0
 0.2
 0.0
 0.0
 0.1
 0.1
 0.0
 0.0
 na


 Clackmannanshire 
 0.1
 0.1
 0.0
 0.1
 0.1
 0.2
 0.2
 0.1
 0.1


 Dumfries & Galloway 
 0.1
 0.1
 0.1
 0.5
 0.1
 na
 na
 na
 na


 Dundee City
 0.5
 0.6
 0.6
 0.2
 0.5
 0.6
 0.6
 0.3
 0.4


 East Ayrshire
 0.1
 0.0
 0.1
 0.3
 0.2
 0.2
 0.2
 0.2
 0.2


 East Dunbartonshire
 0.0
 0.1
 0.1
 0.1
 0.1
 0.1
 0.1
 0.1
 0.1


 East Lothian 
 0.0
 0.1
 0.0
 0.1
 0.1
 0.1
 0.1
 0.0
 0.2


 East Renfrewshire 
 0.0
 0.1
 0.1
 0.1
 0.1
 0.1
 0.0
 0.0
 0.1


 Edinburgh, City of
 0.5
 0.7
 0.7
 1.0
 1.4
 1.2
 2.1
 1.5
 1.7


 Eilean Siar, Comhairle nan
 0.0
 0.0
 0.0
 0.0
 0.0
 0.0
 0.0
 0.0
 na


 Falkirk 
 0.3
 0.3
 0.5
 0.5
 0.5
 0.5
 0.5
 0.5
 0.3


 Fife 
 0.4
 0.4
 0.4
 0.3
 0.8
 0.5
 0.6
 0.6
 0.4


 Glasgow City 
 2.7
 3.3
 4.0
 4.0
 6.5
 na
 na
 na
 na


 Highland 
 0.1
 0.1
 0.1
 0.3
 0.1
 0.0
 0.0
 0.0
 0.3


 Inverclyde 
 0.1
 0.3
 0.4
 0.1
 0.5
 0.3
 0.2
 0.5
 0.4


 Midlothian
 0.0
 0.1
 0.1
 0.1
 0.1
 0.2
 0.0
 0.1
 0.1


 Moray 
 0.0
 0.0
 0.0
 0.0
 0.0
 0.0
 0.0
 0.0
 0.1


 North Ayrshire
 0.1
 0.2
 0.2
 0.2
 0.2
 0.2
 0.2
 0.6
 0.2


 North Lanarkshire 
 0.2
 0.3
 0.3
 0.4
 0.6
 0.8
 0.6
 0.6
 1.0


 Orkney Islands 
 0.0
 0.0
 0.0
 0.0
 0.0
 0.0
 0.0
 0.0
 0.0


 Perth and Kinross 
 0.1
 0.1
 0.1
 0.1
 0.1
 0.1
 0.0
 0.0
 0.0


 Renfrewshire 
 0.4
 0.7
 0.8
 0.8
 0.6
 0.6
 0.8
 0.0
 0.3


 Scottish Borders 
 0.0
 0.0
 0.0
 0.0
 0.2
 na
 na
 na
 na


 Shetland Islands 
 0.0
 0.0
 0.0
 0.0
 0.0
 0.0
 0.0
 0.0
 0.0


 South Ayrshire 
 0.0
 0.0
 0.1
 0.1
 0.0
 0.1
 0.1
 0.1
 0.1


 South Lanarkshire 
 0.1
 0.1
 0.2
 0.1
 0.4
 0.0
 0.1
 0.4
 0.7


 Stirling
 0.1
 0.1
 0.1
 0.1
 0.1
 0.0
 0.2
 0.1
 0.2


 West Dunbartonshire
 0.1
 0.1
 0.4
 0.0
 0.0
 0.4
 0.4
 0.3
 0.6


 West Lothian
 0.0
 0.1
 0.0
 0.0
 0.0
 0.0
 0.3
 0.3
 0.2



  Source: Housing Revenue Account returns to the Scottish Government.

Housing

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Cabinet Secretary for Justice has had discussions with the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing regarding the impact on existing tenants, especially those of advancing years, of the allocation of houses in multi-storey blocks to people with a record of antisocial behaviour.

Nicola Sturgeon: I have not had discussions with the Cabinet Secretary for Justice on this particular issue but we work closely together to tackle the problem of antisocial behaviour in our communities which remains a top priority for the Scottish Government.

  Whether existing tenants are old or young, they are entitled to the peaceful enjoyment of their home. Antisocial behaviour is a tenancy management issue and social landlords should apply tenancy conditions strictly and take action where necessary to put a stop to antisocial behaviour, including eviction action, if no other intervention is successful.

  We know that demand for social housing makes housing allocations a difficult and pressured area for landlords. This is not a new development, and it is important for landlords to recognise the flexibility that they have to develop allocations policies, in consultation with their tenants, that suit their circumstances and will help create balanced and sustainable communities. It is open to social landlords to look at their system of priorities to see whether some amendment to their rules, within the statutory framework, might help retain the special nature of particular properties.

  Recent Scottish Government research confirmed that landlords find it difficult to navigate the different statutory requirements and policies in this area. The government is committed to improving clarity in this area and addressing the issues identified.

  Where an applicant has been evicted for antisocial behaviour in the last three years or where an Antisocial Behaviour Order (ASBO) is in place, social landlords can use short Scottish secure tenancies which can be ended speedily if the antisocial behaviour persists. Where there has been a history of antisocial behaviour but no eviction or ASBO, the landlord has discretion to suspend applicants from housing allocation for a time until there has been evidence of improvement in behaviour.

  We are currently reviewing the national antisocial behaviour strategy to see where it can be strengthened and where communities can become more usefully involved. We want to put more emphasis on prevention and early intervention to tackle antisocial behaviour early before it escalates. Only by tackling the underlying causes of antisocial behaviour, such as drink, drugs and deprivation, will we deliver long terms solutions for our communities.

Housing

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it accepts the evidence provided by Professor Glen Bramley that Bearsden and Milngavie is the district with the highest level of unmet need in Scotland; whether East Dunbartonshire Council will be given a share of the £25 million for council house building to build new houses in the Bearsden and Milngavie area and, if so, how many houses this share will fund the construction of.

Stewart Maxwell: In the most recently published Local Housing Need and Affordability Model for Scotland (November 2006), Professor Glen Bramley identifies the former district of Bearsden and Milngavie as having the ninth highest level of positive net housing need in Scotland, amongst former district councils. Analysis by existing council boundaries shows that East Dunbartonshire has the second highest level of positive net housing need, after the City of Edinburgh. However, analysis by Housing Market Area shows that higher prices and shortages in authorities adjacent to Glasgow, including East Dunbartonshire, are offset by the low prices and surpluses within Glasgow City and West Dunbartonshire. The Glasgow housing market area as a whole is in surplus.

  We will work with our partners in local government to decide how best to allocate the £25 million and ensure it has maximum impact on the supply of new council housing in Scotland where it is most needed.

Housing

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to ensure that indigenous highlanders are not displaced by housing and homelessness legislation that disadvantages them when trying to find social housing in their local area.

Stewart Maxwell: There is nothing in housing or homeless legislation that disadvantages local residents. It is for local authorities and registered social landlords to determine their own allocation policies within the framework of existing guidance, which aims to ensure that social housing is allocated on an objective assessment of housing need. The existing guidance makes it clear that both local connection and waiting time can be taken into account when allocating housing, providing the assessment of local connection is not determined by length of residence. Nothing in the guidance or legislation prevents landlords from operating separate allocation policies for different parts of their areas or from giving people with connections to specific communities priority for housing in that community.

Housing

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how it defines an affordable home.

Stewart Maxwell: The consultative draft Scottish Planning Policy 3 for Housing (SPP3) , published in January 2007, and available at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/01/07141036/0 defines affordable housing as "housing of a reasonable quality that is affordable to people on modest incomes" and details the different categories of affordable housing. These categories are broadly defined as social rented, subsidised low cost housing for sale (discounted, shared ownership and shared equity), low cost housing without subsidy (entry level housing for sale) and private rented accommodation available at lower costs than market rents (mid market rent).

  Affordability is a relative rather than absolute measure and in developing housing policies to increase the supply of affordable housing and the supply and affordability of housing more generally, the Scottish Government takes into account a range of factors including other household costs and low earnings levels.

Justice

Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidelines have been given by the Crown Office to district procurators fiscal on the diversion of cases from summary courts.

Frank Mulholland QC: A new system of direct measures, including extended fiscal fines and compensation offers, was introduced on 10 March 2008 by the Criminal Proceedings etc. (Reform) (Scotland) Act 2007 as part of the wider Summary Justice Reform programme. A key aim of the reforms is to ensure that those who offend can either be dealt with more effectively and expeditiously through the use of direct measures or through a faster summary court process.

  Where there is sufficient evidence to establish that a crime has been committed, the Procurator Fiscal will consider what, if any, action is required in the public interest. Decisions are based on the facts and circumstances of each case. Direct measures are used for the type of less serious offending that would, for example, be unlikely to attract imprisonment or a community order at the conclusion of any court proceedings. This will, in turn, free the courts to tackle those offenders whose behaviour can have a corrosive effect on communities, and to address longer term offending behaviour.

  All Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service staff involved in the new summary justice system have received two days of training which has been supplemented with new prosecutorial guidance which is focused on achieving the most appropriate outcome in each case at the earliest opportunity. While it would not be appropriate to publish this detailed prosecutorial guidance, it seeks to achieve the aims of the Summary Justice System Model which was published by the Scottish Government in 2007.

Ministerial Engagements

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-10193 and S3W-10182 by John Swinney on 5 March 2008, how many official ministerial engagements were undertaken by the Minister for Communities and Sport in March 2008, broken down by local authority area.

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-10183 and S3W-10182 by John Swinney on 5 March 2008, how many official ministerial engagements were undertaken by the Minister for Communities and Sport in March 2008, broken down by local authority area.

John Swinney: The Minister for Communities and Sport carried out 109 ministerial engagements/meetings within Scotland in March 2008.

  

 Council Area
 Number of Engagements


 North Lanarkshire 
 1


 Glasgow City 
 1


 Highland 
 1


 Aberdeen City 
 1



  The remaining engagements/meetings were held within the City of Edinburgh Council area.

Modern Apprenticeships

John Park (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive many extra places on modern apprenticeship schemes have been created for those aged (a) 16 to 19 and (b) over 20.

Fiona Hyslop: In construction and engineering related sectors we are providing (a) an additional 500 modern apprenticeship opportunities for 16 to 19-year-olds and (b) an additional 500 modern apprenticeship opportunities for over 20-year-olds.

NHS Finance

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the projected underspend or overspend is for each health authority for 2007-08.

Nicola Sturgeon: Based on draft annual accounts submitted by each health board, the 2007-08 projected end year position is show below. Final accounts will be submitted by 30 June 2008.

  

 NHS Board
£000


 NHS Ayrshire and Arran
 9,961 


 NHS Borders
 522 


 NHS Dumfries and Galloway
 7,313 


 NHS Fife
 5,664 


 NHS Forth Valley
 2,000 


 NHS Grampian
 6,391 


 NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
 370 


 NHS Highland
 5,217 


 NHS Lanarkshire
 11,863 


 NHS Lothian
 279 


 NHS Orkney
 4 


 NHS Shetland
 960 


 NHS Tayside
 1,807 


 NHS Western Isles
 (3,312)


 Total Unified Boards 
 49,039 


 Special Health Boards
 


 National Waiting Times Centre
 7,208 


 NHS 24
 255 


 NHS Education for Scotland
 15,179 


 NHS Health Scotland
 230 


 NHS NSS
 2,765 


 NHS QIS
 391 


 Scottish Ambulance Service
 20 


 State Hospital
 73 


 Total Special Health Boards
 26,121 


 Total NHS Scotland
 75,160

NHS Hospitals

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-12894 by Nicola Sturgeon on 21 May 2008, which directorate is giving consideration to national implementation of collection of injury data at accident and emergency departments using EDIS.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Chief Medical Officer is assessing the current position and seeking the advice of National Services Scotland from where work on data standards is co-ordinated.

NHS Hospitals

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-12894 by Nicola Sturgeon on 21 May 2008, what the timescale is for national implementation of the collection of injury data at accident and emergency departments using EDIS.

Nicola Sturgeon: No timescale has been set. The current position in Scotland and approaches in other jurisdictions are currently being examined.

NHS Hospitals

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-12894 by Nicola Sturgeon on 21 May 2008, whether any inconsistencies between the EDIS injury data collection facility and the National Clinical Dataset Development Programme in respect of the recording of data on sporting injuries have been resolved and, if not, whether there are any plans to resolve this matter.

Nicola Sturgeon: National Clinical Data Development Programme are currently working with the accident and emergency user group to identify the level of compliance with the nationally agreed standards in each accident and emergency system. The results of this work are expected towards the end of June 2008. This is expected to include information on each system and whether, how and in what timescales they plan to address areas where they currently do not comply.

Prescription Charges

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people with incomes below £16,000 per annum will benefit from the abolition of prescription charges.

Shona Robison: We estimate that around 600,000 adults living in families with annual income below £16,000 will benefit from the abolition of prescription charges.

Schools

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, following its announcement of new options for funding public sector capital projects, how the new school buildings proposed in Aberdeenshire will be funded and whether they have been deemed suitable to be funded through the Scottish Futures Trust.

Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government announced on 20 May the publication of the strategic business case for the Scottish Futures Trust initiative to be supported by a new company established in the public sector. The trust company will be formed this summer and will work with the public sector and market. One of its objectives will be to assist the public sector to produce national strategies for the delivery and funding of schools, housing, waste and flood prevention investment.

  The investment priorities, funding options and the allocation of resources for building work on individual schools are matters for the council.

Schools

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it now expects new schools in Aberdeenshire to be built, given that new funding mechanisms are being made available for public sector capital projects.

Fiona Hyslop: Aberdeenshire Council has responsibility for the provision and maintenance of school buildings in its area. Questions regarding the timing of particular construction projects and how they funded are matters for the council.

Scottish Futures Trust

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people it estimates will be helped by the Local Improvement Finance Trust in 2008-09.

Nicola Sturgeon: The NHS LIFT initiative operates in England only.

  The Scottish Government announced on 20 May 2008 that the hub initiative would be implemented as part of the development of the Scottish Futures Trust. The hub initiative is a more flexible approach to the development and financing of community based premises. Procurement is expected to commence in December 2008.

Student Finance

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many students from families with incomes below £16,000 per annum will benefit from the abolition of the graduate endowment scheme.

Fiona Hyslop: The exact figure is not held centrally, because liability to pay the graduate endowment was dependent not only on current circumstances but on future events, such as academic success or becoming eligible for loan parents’ grant in the future. If the student chose to add the graduate endowment to their loan then actual repayment would depend on the students own current and future income, which is not known.

  A broad estimate of the number of students enrolled in higher education in 2006-07 from families who had declared incomes below £16,000 when applying for student support and who would have been liable to either pay the graduate endowment or add it to their student loan is around £9,000. This is the number of students from low income families who benefit from the abolition of the scheme.